DATE=7/27/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CONGRESS-CHINA-TRADE (L) (CQ)
NUMBER=2-252213
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: China's trade relationship with the United
States has survived another challenge in the U-S
Congress. The House of Representatives has voted to
uphold President Clinton's decision to extend normal
trade relations with Beijing for one more year, giving
the Chinese the same tariff treatment accorded most of
America's trading partners. The administration won by
a comfortable margin (260 for N-T-R - - 170 against).
But as V-O-A's Paula Wolfson reports, there were
plenty of voices raised in strong opposition.
TEXT: This is one of those issues that
transcends party lines and political ideologies.
Conservatives and liberals - - Republicans and
Democrats - - rose to speak on both sides.
The notion of continuing normal trade relations was
strongly defended by House members whose districts
export to China, and believe business dealings will
eventually result in positive change. Illinois
Republican Philip Crane - - the Chairman of the House
Trade Subcommittee - - opened the debate.
/// Crane act ///
A nation of one-point-two billion people is more
likely to imitate our powerful example over time
than it is to bend as a result of our threats.
/// end act ///
He was quickly challenged by a fellow Republican,Frank
Wolf of Virginia.
/// Wolf act ///
They are the evil empire! And they are the evil
empire as Ronald Reagan said in 1983 with regard
to the Soviet Union!
/// end act ///
Indiana Democrat Tim Roemer picked up on the theme.
He said current U-S policy is bringing change - -
albeit slow change - - to China. He said Congress is
faced with two choices.
/// Roemer act ///
The choices are clear and simple. We can have a
Constructive, purposeful engagement policy with
China or we can have a new cold war with a new
evil empire with new costs to our taxpayers for
a larger defense budget.
/// end act ///
There was emotion in the words of many House members.
But one voice stood out. David Wu is a new member of
the House from the Pacific Northwest. The Oregon
Democrat is the only Chinese-American in Congress.
/// Wu act ///
I stand here as living proof the Chinese people
can fully participate in democracy. I stand here
as proof that all people deserve to walk the
path of freedom. And where have we been walking
in the past ten years through two
administrations. We have been walking not the
path of freedom, but the moral wilderness.
/// end act ///
Opponents of normal trade relations with China - - a
designation once called Most Favored Nation trade
status - went into the debate acknowledging they would
lose. They had hoped the recent House inquiry into
technology transfers to China, and the subsequent
allegations of Chinese spying would have an impact on
the outcome of the debate.
But the vote was only slightly closer than last year.
And the issue was seldom raised during the long hours
of rhetoric in the House chamber. The loose
coalition of labor, human rights and religious groups
opposed to tariff preferences for China has signaled
its intent to move away from the national security
angle. It will focus more in the future on China's bid
to join the World Trade Organization and get permanent
normal trade relations with the United States.
(signed)
Neb/pw/gm
27-Jul-1999 16:55 PM LOC (27-Jul-1999 2055 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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